The 2007–08 OHL season was the 28th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Twenty teams played 68 games each during the schedule, that started on September 19, 2007, and concluded on March 16, 2008.
On the afternoon of February 18, 2008, Windsor Spitfires team captain Mickey Renaud died after collapsing at his home, at age 19, of the rare heart condition hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.[1]
The playoffs began March 20, with the Kitchener Rangers winning the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions. The Rangers were also chosen before the start of the season to host the 2008 Memorial Cup tournament.
Team changes
The Mississauga IceDogs relocated to the Gatorade Garden City Complex in downtown St. Catharines after getting approval of the team's sale to Bill Burke by the Board of Governors on June 5, 2007. The team was renamed the Niagara IceDogs.[2] The Toronto St. Michael's Majors replaced the IceDogs in the Hershey Centre, renaming themselves, the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors.
The Kingston Frontenacs moved late-season from the Kingston Memorial Centre to the new K-Rock Centre, which opened on February 22, 2008.
Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime Losses; SL = Shootout Losses; GF = Goals For; GA = Goals Against; PTS = Points; x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title; z = clinched conference title
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes
Leading goaltenders
Note: GP = Games Played; Mins = Minutes Played; W = Wins; L = Losses: OTL = Overtime Losses; SL = Shootout Losses; GA = Goals Allowed; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against Average
OHL playoffs
Overview
Conference quarterfinals
Eastern Conference
| Belleville vs. Peterborough |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 19 | Peterborough 1 | 4 Belleville |
| March 20 | Belleville 4 | 5 Peterborough (OT) |
| March 22 | Peterborough 3 | 4 Belleville |
| March 24 | (OT) Belleville 3 | 2 Peterborough |
| March 25 | Peterborough 1 | 7 Belleville |
|
| Belleville wins 4–1 |
|
| Brampton vs. Barrie |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 20 | Barrie 3 | 1 Brampton |
| March 22 | Brampton 2 | 3 Barrie (OT) |
| March 23 | Barrie 1 | 5 Brampton |
| March 25 | Brampton 1 | 2 Barrie (OT) |
| March 27 | Barrie 2 | 0 Brampton |
|
| Barrie wins 4–1 |
|
| Oshawa vs. Ottawa |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 21 | Ottawa 2 | 3 Oshawa |
| March 23 | Ottawa 2 | 5 Oshawa |
| March 25 | Oshawa 2 | 1 Ottawa |
| March 27 | Oshawa 4 | 1 Ottawa |
|
| Oshawa wins 4–0 |
|
| Niagara vs. Mississauga |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 20 | Mississauga 0 | 4 Niagara |
| March 21 | Niagara 3 | 1 Mississauga |
| March 23 | Mississauga 0 | 5 Niagara |
| March 25 | Niagara 6 | 3 Mississauga |
|
| Niagara wins 4–0 |
|
Western Conference
| Kitchener vs. Plymouth |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 21 | Plymouth 2 | 9 Kitchener |
| March 22 | Kitchener 6 | 4 Plymouth |
| March 24 | Plymouth 3 | 7 Kitchener |
| March 26 | Kitchener 7 | 4 Plymouth |
|
| Kitchener wins 4–0 |
|
| Sault Ste. Marie vs. Saginaw |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 21 | Saginaw 4 | 5 S.S. Marie |
| March 24 | Saginaw 1 | 2 S.S. Marie |
| March 26 | S.S. Marie 6 | 2 Saginaw |
| March 27 | S.S. Marie 4 | 2 Saginaw |
|
| S.S. Marie wins 4–0 |
|
| Windsor vs. Sarnia |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 20 | Sarnia 3 | 0 Windsor |
| March 21 | Windsor 2 | 5 Sarnia |
| March 23 | Sarnia 2 | 4 Windsor |
| March 25 | Windsor 4 | 5 Sarnia |
| March 27 | (OT) Sarnia 4 | 3 Windsor |
|
| Sarnia wins 4–1 |
|
| London vs. Guelph |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 21 | (OT) Guelph 3 | London 2 |
| March 22 | London 1 | 4 Guelph |
| March 25 | Guelph 5 | 3 London |
| March 27 | London 2 | 1 Guelph |
| March 28 | Guelph 5 | 0 London |
|
| Guelph wins 4–1 |
|
Conference semifinals
Eastern Conference
| Belleville vs. Barrie |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 2 | Barrie 2 | 7 Belleville |
| April 3 | Belleville 5 | 1 Barrie |
| April 5 | Barrie 1 | 2 Belleville |
| April 8 | Belleville 3 | 2 Barrie |
|
| Belleville wins 4–0 |
|
| Oshawa vs. Niagara |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 3 | Niagara 1 | 6 Oshawa |
| April 5 | Oshawa 3 | 5 Niagara |
| April 6 | Niagara 1 | 4 Oshawa |
| April 8 | Oshawa 6 | 4 Niagara |
| April 11 | Niagara 8 | 3 Oshawa |
| April 13 | Oshawa 5 | 2 Niagara |
| Oshawa wins 4–2 |
|
Western Conference
| Kitchener vs. Sarnia |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 4 | Sarnia 0 | 3 Kitchener |
| April 5 | (3OT) Kitchener 3 | 2 Sarnia |
| April 8 | Sarnia 2 | 6 Kitchener |
| April 9 | Kitchener 6 | 2 Sarnia |
|
| Kitchener wins 4–0 |
|
| Sault Ste. Marie vs. Guelph |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 3 | Guelph 4 | 1 S.S. Marie |
| April 4 | Guelph 1 | 3 S.S. Marie |
| April 7 | S.S. Marie 2 | 1 Guelph |
| April 8 | S.S. Marie 3 | 2 Guelph |
| April 10 | Guelph 1 | 4 S.S. Marie |
|
| S.S. Marie wins 4–1 |
|
|
Conference finals
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
|---|
| Belleville vs. Oshawa |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 16 | Oshawa 2 | 3 Belleville |
| April 18 | Belleville 4 | 3 Oshawa |
| April 19 | Oshawa 2 | 5 Belleville |
| April 21 | Belleville 1 | 2 Oshawa |
| April 23 | Oshawa 0 | 11 Belleville |
|
| Belleville wins 4–1 |
|
| Kitchener vs. Sault Ste. Marie |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 16 | S.S. Marie 1 | 3 Kitchener |
| April 17 | S.S. Marie 3 | 1 Kitchener |
| April 20 | Kitchener 6 | 3 S.S. Marie |
| April 21 | Kitchener 7 | 3 S.S. Marie |
| April 23 | S.S. Marie 0 | 5 Kitchener |
| Kitchener wins 4–1 |
|
OHL finals
| Kitchener vs. Belleville |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 30 | Belleville 2 | 5 Kitchener |
| May 2 | Kitchener 5 | 2 Belleville |
| May 4 | Belleville 3 | 5 Kitchener |
| May 6 | Kitchener 4 | 5 Belleville (OT) |
| May 8 | Belleville 2 | 1 Kitchener |
| May 10 | Kitchener 3 | 6 Belleville |
| May 12 | Belleville 1 | 4 Kitchener |
| Kitchener wins 4-3 |
Playoff scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes
Playoff leading goaltenders
Note: GP = Games Played; Mins = Minutes Played; W = Wins; L = Losses: OTL = Overtime Losses; SL = Shootout Losses; GA = Goals Allowed; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against Average
All-Star teams
First team
- Justin Azevedo, Centre, Kitchener Rangers
- Brett MacLean, Left Wing, Oshawa Generals
- Matthew Halischuk, Right Wing, Kitchener Rangers
- Drew Doughty, Defence, Guelph Storm
- Zach Bogosian, Defence, Peterborough Petes
- Mike Murphy, Goaltender, Belleville Bulls
- Bob Boughner, Coach, Windsor Spitfires
Second team
- Steven Stamkos, Centre, Sarnia Sting
- Luca Caputi, Left Wing, Niagara IceDogs
- Stefan Legein, Right Wing, Niagara IceDogs
- Bob Sanguinetti, Defence, Brampton Battalion
- Yannick Weber, Defence, Kitchener Rangers
- Steve Mason, Goaltender, Kitchener Rangers
- Peter DeBoer, Coach, Kitchener Rangers
Third team
- Shawn Matthias, Centre, Belleville Bulls
- Matt Beleskey, Left Wing, Belleville Bulls
- Wayne Simmonds, Right Wing, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
- Alex Pietrangelo, Defence, Niagara IceDogs
- Ryan Wilson, Defence, Sarnia Sting
- Thomas McCollum, Goaltender, Guelph Storm
- George Burnett, Coach, Belleville Bulls
All-Star Classic
The OHL All-Star Classic was played February 6, 2008 at the Steelback Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, won 8–7 in a shootout by the Eastern Conference.[3] The skills competition was held the previous night on February 5, with the Eastern Conference winning 19–18.[4]
Awards
| J. Ross Robertson Cup: | Kitchener Rangers |
| Hamilton Spectator Trophy: | Kitchener Rangers |
| Bobby Orr Trophy: | Belleville Bulls |
| Wayne Gretzky Trophy: | Kitchener Rangers |
| Emms Trophy: | Brampton Battalion |
| Leyden Trophy: | Belleville Bulls |
| Holody Trophy: | Kitchener Rangers |
| Bumbacco Trophy: | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
| Red Tilson Trophy: | Justin Azevedo, Kitchener Rangers |
| Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy: | Justin Azevedo, Kitchener Rangers |
| Matt Leyden Trophy: | Bob Boughner, Windsor Spitfires |
| Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy: | John Hughes, Brampton Battalion |
| Max Kaminsky Trophy: | Drew Doughty, Guelph Storm |
| OHL Goaltender of the Year: | Mike Murphy, Belleville Bulls |
| Jack Ferguson Award: | John McFarland, Sudbury Wolves |
| Dave Pinkney Trophy: | |
| OHL Executive of the Year: | Denise Burke, Niagara IceDogs |
| Emms Family Award: | Taylor Hall, Windsor Spitfires |
| F. W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy: | Josh Unice, Kitchener Rangers |
| Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy: | Pete Stevens, Kingston Frontenacs |
| William Hanley Trophy: | Nick Spaling, Kitchener Rangers |
| Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy: | Michael Swift, Niagara IceDogs |
| Bobby Smith Trophy: | Ryan Ellis, Windsor Spitfires |
| Roger Neilson Memorial Award: | Scott Aarssen, London Knights |
| Ivan Tennant Memorial Award: | Alex Friesen, Niagara IceDogs |
| Tim Adams Memorial Trophy: | John McFarland, Toronto Jr. Canadiens |
| Wayne Gretzky 99 Award: | Justin Azevedo, Kitchener Rangers |
OHL Priority Selection
The OHL conducted its annual draft, known as the OHL Priority Selection, starting at 9:00 AM on Saturday May 5, 2007 via internet.
CHL Import Draft
The 2007 CHL Import Draft was held via the internet, starting at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, June 27, 2007. Teams from the OHL, QMJHL, and WHL drafted players in reverse order of their finish in the combined CHL standings. All CHL teams are awarded one draft pick in each of the two rounds, although not all CHL teams use both picks. Some teams chose not to participate in the draft.
This list includes drafts picks made by OHL teams in the 2007 draft.
| No. | OHL Team | Player | Previous Team / Country |
| 2 | Erie Otters | Jaroslav Janus | Slovan Bratislava, Slovakia |
| 5 | Kitchener Rangers | Mikkel Boedker | Frolunda HC Jr., Sweden |
| 8 | Windsor Spitfires | Michal Jordan | HC Zlin, Czech Republic |
| 11 | London Knights | Vladimir Roth | Slavia Praha, Czech Republic |
| 14 | Brampton Battalion | Alexander Eriksson | IF Bjorkloven, Sweden |
| 17 | Ottawa 67's | Radim Ostrcil | HC Vsetin, Czech Republic |
| 20 | Brampton Battalion | Jaroslav Hertl | Slavia Praha, Czech Republic |
| 23 | Owen Sound Attack | Milan Doczy | Ocelari Trinec, Czech Republic |
| 26 | Kingston Frontenacs | Andris Dzerins | Lukko Jr., Finland |
| 29 | Oshawa Generals | Jakub Kovar | Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic |
| 32 | Guelph Storm | Denis Hollenstein | Kloten Flyers Jr., Switzerland |
| 35 | Sarnia Sting | Tomi Karhunen | Karpat, Finland |
| 38 | Ottawa 67's | Martin Paryzek | HC Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic |
| 41 | Sarnia Sting | Marek Indra | Slavia Praha, Czech Republic |
| 44 | Niagara IceDogs | Dalimir Jancovic | HC Martimex, Slovakia |
| 47 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | Andre Petersson | HV71, Sweden |
| 50 | Barrie Colts | Jaroslav Kruzik | HC Kladno, Czech Republic |
| 53 | Owen Sound Attack | Ondrej Pekarik | Sparta Praha, Czech Republic |
| 56 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | Simon Fischhaber | EC Bad Tolz, Germany |
| 58 | London Knights | Heikki Hyvonen | Jokerit Jr., Finland |
| 68 | Sudbury Wolves | Roman Schlagenhauf | Koten Flyers, Switzerland |
| 72 | Niagara IceDogs | Richard Fiala | MHk 32 Liptovsky Mikulas, Czech Republic |
See also
References
External links